Pedro Junior’s goal in the final seconds lifted Vissel Kobe to a 2-1 home win over Vegalta Sendai on Sunday and into the Nabisco Cup quarterfinals for the first time.
On the final day of first-round action, defending champions Kashiwa Reysol reached the final eight for the third straight year as Group A runnersup with a 4-1 victory at home over J1 stragglers Tokushima Vortis, while idle Gamba Osaka advanced as Group B winners. Urawa Reds, who had already clinched their quarterfinal spot, knocked Nagoya Grampus out with a 5-2 victory in Saitama.
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